Goodwood Festival of Speed: Valentino Rossi prepares to make his debut

Amie Gordon

Petrol heads are in for a treat today as MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi prepares to make his debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

‘The Doctor’ will be making his hotly-anticipated debut on his 2015 Yamaha YZR-M1 GP race bike in celebration of Yamaha Motor Co’s 60th anniversary.

Mazda sculpture from Goodwood House at Goodwood Festival of Speed PICTURE BY MICHAEL REED

He will talk to Lord March on the Goodwood House balcony at 12.20pm.

Rossi will be taking on the hill climb this afternoon, having come from the Dutch TT only yesterday.

The most successful MotoGP racer of all time, legions of fans will be making their way to Goodwood today (June 28) to see the 36-year-old Italian.

His first ever appearance at the event coincides perfectly with this years theme - ‘Flat-Out and Fearless: Racing on the Edge’.

Festival organisers said a significant number of ticket sales on the final day of the event this year were purchased by bikers.

Lord March said: “This is a very special year for bike fans. Not only does MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi make his Goodwood debut, on his current Yamaha race bike in celebration of Yamaha Motor Co’s 60th anniversary, but Casey Stoner will be with us too, as well as fellow World Champions Giacomo Agostini, John Surtees, Kenny Roberts, Jim Redman, Freddie Spencer, Sylvain Guintoli, Dave Thorpe and Chaz Davies. And the incredible Bienville Legacy – one of the most powerful road bikes ever made – makes its world debut too.”

Meanwhile 15-time Motorcycle GP world champion Giacomo Agostini will be riding the 1969 title-winning MV Agusta 500 and their new 1000 F4 machine, while Casey Stoner will also be thrilling the crowds on his Honda RC213V, after a nine-year absence from Goodwood.